Wireless communication print server

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication print server  25  that makes a printer  20  connected the wireless communication print server  25  unavailable if a parameter  50  is in the initial state. When the wireless communication print server  25  receives a print request, determines whether or not the parameter  50  is in the initial state, and then rejects the print request if the parameter  50  is in the initial state. If the parameter  50  that has been changed by a change unit  60  is not in the initial state, the wireless communication print server makes the printer  20  connected with the wireless communication print server  25  available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a wireless communication printserver for relaying a print request received through wirelesscommunications to a printer.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the prior art, a wireless communication print server has beenproposed that is connected with a terminal and a printer to relay aprint request between them via a wireless LAN (JAPANESE PATENT LAID-OPENGAZETTE No. 2002-7080). In order to establish wireless communications inthe wireless LAN, each device of the wireless communication printserver, the terminal, and the printer must have identical parameters(hereinafter referred to as “communication parameter”), which include“ESS-ID,” “Communication Mode,” “Communication Channel,” and “WEP key.”In other words, it is impossible to print through the wireless LAN ifsome of the communication parameters differ among the devices.

[0005] It is a complicated task for the user to set the communicationparameters of each device. In the case of the devices from an identicalmanufacturer, the communication parameters in the initial setting mayallow communications. Therefore, some users may use such devices in theinitial setting. However, the initial setting results in unsatisfactorysecurity. For example, a third person can perform unauthorized access tothe printer via the wireless LAN intentionally or unintentionally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a wireless communication printserver that can prevent unauthorized access to a printer.

[0007] The wireless communication print server of the present inventionis directed to a wireless communication print server for relaying aprint request received through wireless communications to a printer, thewireless communication print server comprising: a retention unit thatretains a parameter for establishing wireless communications; adetermination unit that determines whether or not the setting of theparameter is in the initial state; a rejection unit that ignores theprint request if the setting of the parameter is in the initial state;and a change unit that receives a change instruction for the setting ofthe parameter and changes the setting of the parameter from the initialstate based on the change instruction.

[0008] The present invention enables the printer connected with thewireless communication print server to be made unavailable irrespectiveof the user's intention if the parameter of the wireless communicationprint server remains in the initial state. Therefore, it can preventunauthorized print by the aid of the parameter in the initial state.However, the present invention allows wireless communications forchanging the setting to be received, and thus enables the setting of theparameter to be changed without wired connection. In this manner, thepresent invention can prevent unauthorized access while ensuring theconvenience in changing the setting of the parameter.

[0009] The initial state includes a state when the wirelesscommunication print server is shipped from its manufacturing factory,and a state when the setting of the wireless communication print serveris reset to the default. The print request can be distinguished fromother communications, for example, based on whether or not a printprotocol is used.

[0010] The wireless communication print server is further characterizedin that the retention unit retains a predetermined rejection flag thatindicates whether or not the setting of the parameter is in the initialstate, and the determination unit determines based on the rejectionflag, the wireless communication print server further comprising: arelease unit that changes the rejection flag to a value indicatingprinting-availability when the setting of the parameter is changed fromthe initial state.

[0011] This ensures easy determination of whether or not the rejectionflag is in the initial state based on only the value of the rejectionflag without checking the values of all parameters.

[0012] The wireless communication print server may further comprise: aprotocol interpretation unit that interprets based on a protocol theprint request received through wireless communications; and a singledriver that receives and sends the print request from a plurality of theprotocol interpretation units to the printer, wherein the rejection unitmay be included in the driver.

[0013] The print request is sent to the wireless communication printserver under a variety of protocols. Any print request interpreted byeach protocol interpretation unit is sent to the printer via the driver.Therefore, the above configuration enables the single rejection unitincluded in the driver to deal with any print request without providinga separate rejection unit for each protocol interpretation unit, andthereby simplifying the configuration.

[0014] The rejection unit may send back a notification irrespective ofthe actual operational state of the printer to indicate that the printeris unavailable.

[0015] The terminal that has received the notification indicatingprinting-unavailability can know that it cannot print. When the originaluser of the wireless communication print server receives thisnotification, he or she knows that the parameter should be changed. Thenotification that the printer is unavailable enables the print requestto be rejected even if the printer functions normally and thus isactually available.

[0016] This notification includes a “busy notification.” The “busynotification” indicates that the printer is printing. This is convenientsince an additional module need not be provided for rejection.

[0017] In the present invention, the various features described abovemay be combined or partly omitted according to the requirements. Thepresent invention is not limited to the above wireless communicationprint server but may be configured as a variety of aspects such as acontrol method of controlling the operation of the wirelesscommunication print server. The features described above may be appliedto any of the aspects according to the requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless communicationprint server 25;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed when the wirelesscommunication print server 25 receives a print request; and

[0020]FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows a process for changing aparameter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. Embodiments

[0021] A1. Functional Blocks

[0022]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless communicationprint server 25. The wireless communication print server 25 receives aprint request from a terminal 30 through wireless communications andthen sends it to a printer 20. The wireless communication print server25 may be incorporated within the printer 20 or be an external one.

[0023] A protocol interpretation unit 65 interprets protocols forcommunications or print requests. The communication protocols includeTCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, and the like, and thus the protocolinterpretation unit 65 includes functional parts for interpreting therespective protocols in order to deal with a print request representedunder each of the protocols. In addition, an upper layer of TCP/IPincludes functional parts for interpreting print protocols such as LPRand IPP.

[0024] A retention unit 45 has parameters 50 and a rejection flag 55,which are required for establishing the wireless communications. Theparameters 50 include “ESS-ID,” “Mode,” “Channel,” and “WEP.”

[0025] If both sides that desire to perform the wireless communicationsdo not have an identical “ESS-ID,” the network is not recognized.

[0026] The “Mode” represents a communication mode, which includes AdhocMode and Infrastructure Mode in the wireless communications. The AdhocMode enables terminals to have one-on-one connection such aspeer-to-peer connection, and the Infrastructure Mode providescommunications via a repeater (so-called access point). If the bothsides that desire to perform the wireless communications do not have anidentical “Mode,” they cannot also communicate.

[0027] The “Channel” represents a number allocated to each of radio wavebands into which the entire radio wave band is divided. If the bothsides that desire to perform the wireless communications do not have anidentical “Channel,” they cannot also communicate.

[0028] The “WEP” is a RC4 encryption function that is optionallyimplemented in IEEE802.11, and uses an encryption key having a maximumof 40-bit encryption strength to encode and thus protect data to be sentand received. If the both sides that desire to perform the wirelesscommunications do not have an identical encryption key, they cannotcommunicate. However, the encryption key is not set up in the initialstate.

[0029] The rejection flag 55, which indicates whether or not theparameters 50 are in the initial state, takes the value “1” if they arein the initial state and otherwise takes the value “0.” The parameters50 are in the initial state if the wireless communication print server25 has its setting unchanged after it was shipped from its manufacturingfactory or if the user of the wireless communication print server 25 hasperformed a process for resetting the setting of the wirelesscommunication print server 25 to the default.

[0030] A change unit 60 has a function of changing the parameters 50 andthe rejection flag 55.

[0031] A driver 35 sends the print request interpreted by the protocolinterpretation unit 65 to the printer 20. However, a determination unit42 works prior to the print request being sent. The determination unit42 determines based on the rejection flag 55 whether or not theparameters 50 are in the initial state. If it is determined that theparameters 50 are in the initial state, a rejection unit 40 instructs tosend a “busy notification” indicating printing-unavailability, and doesnot send the print request to the printer 20. If it is determined thatthe parameters 50 are not in the initial state, the print request issent to the printer 20.

[0032] A2. Processes

[0033]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a process performed when the wirelesscommunication print server 25 receives the print request. When thewireless communication print server 25 receives the print request fromthe terminal 30 (step S20), it uses the protocol interpretation unit 65to interpret the protocol (step S25). The determination on whether ornot the received request is a print request can be based on whether ornot a print protocol is used for the received request.

[0034] The protocol-interpreted print request is sent to a driver 35.When the determination unit 42 of the driver 35 receives the printrequest, it refers to the rejection flag 55 included within theretention unit 45. If the rejection flag 55 is equal to 1 (step S30),the rejection unit 40 sends a “busy notification” to the terminal 30(step S35). If the rejection flag 55 is equal to 0 (step S30), the printcontent is sent to the printer 20 (step S40).

[0035]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for changing a parameter.The user of the wireless communication print server 25 changes theparameter after the purchase of the wireless communication print server25 in order to print through the wireless communication print server 25.The user may change a parameter according to an environment.

[0036] When the wireless communication print server 25 receives aparameter change request from the terminal 30 (step S50), it uses thechange unit 60 to change the parameter 50 (step S55). If this changecauses the parameter 50 not to be in the initial state (step S57), therejection flag 55 is set to 0 (step S60). This process ensures the printthrough the wireless communication print server 25.

[0037] On the contrary, if the change of the parameter 50 causes theparameter 50 to be in the initial state (step S57), the rejection flag55 is set to 1 (step S65). This process enables the print through thewireless communication print server 25 to be rejected.

[0038] A3. Effects

[0039] The wireless communication print server 25 described aboveenables the printer 20 connected with the wireless communication printserver 25 to be made unavailable if the parameters 50 of the wirelesscommunication print server 25 remain in the initial state. That is, itcan prevent unauthorized print since it is impossible to perform theunauthorized print by matching the parameters 50 of the terminal 30 withthe parameters 50 of the wireless communication print server 25 in theinitial state.

[0040] In addition, even if the parameters 50 of the wirelesscommunication print server 25 remain in the initial state andaccidentally corresponds to those of the terminal 30 that does notintend unauthorized print, the wireless communication print server 25can reject the print from the terminal 30.

[0041] B. Modifications

[0042] Although the embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it should be noted that the present invention is not limitedto the above embodiments and may implement various aspects withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

[0043] For example, the rejection flag 55 may remain equal to 0 when theparameters 50 are reset to the initial state except for the time offactory shipment. This is effective in the case that some processes areto be performed on the wireless communication print server 25 whoseparameters 50 are in the initial state.

[0044] Alternatively, the rejection flag 55 is not necessarily provided,and thus the determination unit 42 may directly check whether or not allor part of the parameters 50 are in the initial state. Furthermore, thedetermination unit 42 and the rejection unit 40 may be included withinthe protocol interpretation unit 65. This enables the determination atan earlier stage after the reception of the print request to be made onwhether or not the printer 20 is available.

[0045] The notification sent in the case of the printer 20 beingunavailable is not limited to the “busy notification,” but may indicatethat the print is rejected since the parameters 50 are in the initialstate. This enables the sender of the print request to know why theprint is rejected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication print server forrelaying a print request received through wireless communications to aprinter, said wireless communication print server comprising: aretention unit that retains a parameter for establishing wirelesscommunications; a determination unit that determines whether or not thesetting of said parameter is in the initial state; a rejection unit thatignores said print request if the setting of said parameter is in theinitial state; and a change unit that receives a change instruction forthe setting of said parameter and changes the setting of said parameterfrom the initial state based on the change instruction.
 2. A wirelesscommunication print server according to claim 1, wherein said retentionunit retains a predetermined rejection flag that indicates whether ornot the setting of said parameter is in the initial state, and saiddetermination unit determines based on said rejection flag, saidwireless communication print server further comprising: a release unitthat changes said rejection flag to a value indicatingprinting-availability when the setting of said parameter is changed fromthe initial state.
 3. A wireless communication print server according toclaim 1, further comprising: a protocol interpretation unit thatinterprets based on a protocol the print request received throughwireless communications; and a single driver that receives and sends theprint request from a plurality of said protocol interpretation units tothe printer, wherein said rejection unit is included in said driver. 4.Awireless communication print server according to claim 1, wherein saidrejection unit sends back a notification irrespective of the actualoperational state of said printer to indicate that said printer isunavailable.
 5. A method of controlling a wireless communication printserver for relaying a print request received through wirelesscommunications to a printer, wherein said wireless communication printserver comprises a retention unit that retains a parameter forestablishing wireless communications, said method comprising: adetermination step of determining whether or not the setting of saidparameter is in the initial state; a rejection step of ignoring saidprint request if the setting of said parameter is in the initial state;and a change step of receiving a change instruction for the setting ofsaid parameter and changing the setting of said parameter from theinitial state based on the change instruction.
 6. A method according toclaim 5, wherein said retention unit retains a predetermined rejectionflag that indicates whether or not the setting of said parameter is inthe initial state, and said determination step determines based on saidrejection flag, said method further comprising: a release step ofchanging said rejection flag to a value indicating printing-availabilitywhen the setting of said parameter is changed from the initial state. 7.A method according to claim 5, wherein said wireless communication printserver further comprises: a protocol interpretation unit that interpretsbased on a protocol the print request received through wirelesscommunications; and a single driver that receives and sends the printrequest from a plurality of said protocol interpretation units to theprinter, wherein said rejection step is performed by said driver.
 8. Amethod according to claim 5, wherein said rejection step sends back anotification irrespective of the actual operational state of saidprinter to indicate that said printer is unavailable.
 9. A recordingmedium that records a computer program for controlling a wirelesscommunication print server for relaying a print request received throughwireless communications to a printer, wherein said wirelesscommunication print server comprises a retention unit that retains aparameter for establishing wireless communications, said programcomprising: a determination program code for determining whether or notthe setting of said parameter is in the initial state; a rejectionprogram code for ignoring said print request if the setting of saidparameter is in the initial state; and a change program code forreceiving a change instruction for the setting of said parameter andchanging the setting of said parameter from the initial state based onthe change instruction.
 10. A recording medium according to claim 9,wherein said retention unit retains a predetermined rejection flag thatindicates whether or not the setting of said parameter is in the initialstate, and said determination program code determines based on saidrejection flag, said recording medium comprising: a release program codethat changes said rejection flag to a value indicatingprinting-availability when the setting of said parameter is changed fromthe initial state.
 11. A recording medium according to claim 9, furthercomprising: a protocol interpretation program code that interprets basedon a protocol the print request received through wirelesscommunications; and a single driver that receives and sends the printrequest from a plurality of said protocol interpretation units to theprinter, wherein said rejection program code is included in said driver.12. A recording medium according to claim 9, wherein said rejectionprogram code sends back a notification irrespective of the actualoperational state of said printer to indicate that said printer isunavailable.